Stirling v. Stokes

Issue: (1) Whether the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit violated basic principles of Strickland v. Washington when it failed to reweigh the whole of the evidence in its prejudice analysis in Sammie Stokes' habeas action to determine if there was a reasonable probability of a different result; (2) whether the 4th Circuit erred in granting relief on a defaulted ineffective-assistance-of-trial-counsel claim when trial counsel had reasonable strategic reasons not to pursue a "bad upbringing" mitigation defense and collateral counsel had reasonable strategic reasons not to pursue an ineffective-assistance-of-trial-counsel claim; and (3) alternatively, whether this case should be held pending the outcome of Shinn v. Ramirez, argued Dec. 8, 2021.